Bloomberg Being Pushed For Presidential Run?

The New York Timesis reporting that Michael Bloomberg is being urged by “the plutocracy” to enter the 2016 presidential race. Oh goody: another security detail-protected, gun-hating candidate to spout made-up statistics leavened with out-and-out lies about American firearms ownership. Just what we need.

With Hillary “The Australian example (forced confiscation) is worth looking at” Clinton finally out of the closet regarding her real gun-control intentions, the season does seem ripe. The Times piece quotes billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman as saying of Bloomberg, “He’s all the best of Trump without the worst of Trump.” Hmmmmmm.

Perhaps more unsettling is Ackman’s observation about costs as a (non) barrier to such a Bloomberg candidacy: “It’s just one quarter’s dividend.” So, apparently, the White House should be bought simply if it can be?

All of which reminds us painfully of Benjamin Franklin’s warning: We have “a Republic, if we can keep it.”

Armed Black Church Leaders A Growing Movement

After nine black churchgoers were murdered at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church earlier this year, Michael Render said, “I wish those folks in that church had been armed.”

Render isn’t your stereotypical gun-rights advocate. He’s a rapper and actor, better known as Killer Mike. But his words reflect growing support among the black community for armed self-defense.

Polls indicate this support has grown steadily—but the Charleston attacks proved a tipping point for the faith community. Pastor Theron Wiggins, of Flint, Mich., says his congregation believes “angels will protect us.” While they’re in church, Wiggins considers himself “one of the angels.” And Bishop Ira Combs of Greater Bible Way—whose services feature armed security—declared, “All of us here are not going to turn the other cheek while you shoot us.”

We don’t need to speculate whether this approach will save lives. We can ask Pastor Keon Allison—who recently defended himself with a pistol against a brick-wielding intruder.

Gun Group Uses “Buyback” Funds For Guns, Ammo

The historical failure of so-called gun “buyback” programs to decrease violent crime has been widely acknowledged, even by typically gun-unfriendly outlets, here and here. But a Chicago “buyback” program is at least providing some benefit—although not to whom Mayor Rahm Emanuel expected.

Members of a Champaign, Ill., pro-gun group turned in several rusty and inoperable guns during last year’s “buyback,” then used the $100 gift cards from the city to buy ammunition for the National Rifle Association youth camp in Bloomington. They also purchased bolt-action rifles for camp participants.

Champaign-based Guns Save Life Executive Director John Boch told the Chicago Sun-Times that his group will return to Chicago this year with about 60 guns to turn in. Bosh added that he and others in the organization “will be delighted to transact business once more with do-gooders in Chicago.” To which we say: Finally, a gun “buyback” that works!

When Guns Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns

“They always quote the Second Amendment rights,” said Hempstead Village, N.Y., Mayor Wayne Hall, referring to pro-gun advocates. “This Second Amendment was written in 1791, when you needed to have a gun. You had all the outlaws. But we don’t need the guns in the urban communities.”

Ironically, Hall spoke those words as he attended a prayer service for a 12-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet that came through the window of her family’s home. Apparently, “outlaws” do still exist—we just call them “criminals” today.

And it’s not the first time that the Nassau County town has witnessed violence. Neighbor Alex Cruz, 29, declared this as the final straw. “I’m moving out of here,” he said. “It’s too dangerous.” Despite Hall’s opinion, it appears that firearms for self-defense isn’t such a bad idea after all, no matter how dated the notion.

In an MSNBC interview on Monday, Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri suggested, somewhat clumsily, that Clinton didn’t mean what she said ... or didn’t support the gun bans she has pushed throughout her entire career ... or that it was all a misunderstanding.

NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox put it most succinctly: “This validates what the NRA has said all along: The real goal of gun-control supporters is gun confiscation. Hillary Clinton, echoing President Obama’s recent remarks on the same issue, made that very clear.”